Explore this expedition

Get back to me form
We’ll answer your questions

How would you prefer us to contact you?

By EmailBy Phone

Help scientists discover everything there is to know about the beaver population in Germany’s Lower Rhine region.

These expert builders were reintroduced in the neighboring Netherlands in the 1980s and have since made their way into the densely populated Lower Rhine. But researchers lack information on how many beavers live there, where they range, and how much they’re interfering with human activities like farming, fishing, and waterway maintenance.

From boats or the shore, search peaceful ponds and streams for signs of beaver life, like lodges, dams, burrows in riverbanks, and gnaw marks—and, of course, for beavers themselves. You’ll count those you see and observe their behavior. You’ll also find out about the world they live in by sampling the soil and water and counting other species in the area.

Very little is known about the beaver population in this area, so you’ll contribute to critical baseline data that will shape plans to manage beavers. Beavers are skillful manipulators of their environment. Their dams can cause floods, divert waterways, change the composition of the soil, and even help bolster fish populations. They nibble on crops and fences. Help make sure that plans to manage these potentially disruptive activities work for the beavers, too.

Lead scientists

Accommodation and food

Why the research is important

Why the research is important

One beaver benefit: their presence is associated with a wider array of plants and animals in river habitats.

Beavers could become victims of their own success as their population booms in the Lower Rhine.

The strong beaver presence in the Lower Rhine tells a success story. After hunters nearly drove them out of existence in the region, beavers are remaking a home for themselves. But they could become victims of their own success. As the population grows and their range expands, they’re bound to run afoul of farmers and watercourse managers. These researchers are seeking to create a picture of the status of the beaver population so they can work toward strong plans for managing inevitable human–beaver conflicts.

You’ll help these researchers meet many of their objectives. They want to know how many beavers are in the District of Cleves and the size of their habitat. They also want to know more about how beavers interact with the environment—for example, what do they eat? Where are they digging canals and burrows?
These researchers are also investigating how beavers impact the people in the area.

They’ll talk to locals to see if they’ve noticed damage and also try to get an objective read on how much beavers are actually nibbling on crops, say, or damaging dikes. This information will help develop management plans that work for people as well as beavers.

About the research area

Emmerich, Germany, Europe & Russia

The District of Cleves offers the best of both worlds: the natural beauty of the countryside and the cosmopolitan comforts of city living. Here you can explore nature reserves dotted with lakes and forests, world-class restaurants, and a range of historical attractions. The Schwanenburg, a medieval castle that now houses a museum, dominates the skyline in the city of Cleves. Other nearby attractions include the Roman fortified town at Xanten and the medieval town of Kalkar, which still has an active traditional windmill.

The area is rich in German and Dutch culture (Cleves and Emmerich are just a few kilometers from the Dutch border). The people speak German, and many speak some English. You’ll also hear lots of Dutch on the streets. You’ll be close to many stunning cities, including Amsterdam, Brussels, and Dusseldorf, which makes this project the perfect jumping-off point for wider European exploration.

Observe beavers in the wild. This will likely be your first or last activity of the day so you can catch beavers around dawn or dusk, when they are most active. You’ll hide behind a blind and count any critters that come into view.

Canoe to spot beaver signs. Later in the day, you may paddle streams and rivers looking for scouting for and documenting signs of beaver activity, such as dams or gnaw marks.

Hike to survey the ecosystem. You'll hike through beaver habitat to map where other plant and animal species occur to develop a picture of the overall diversity of the landscape. You'll also take water and soil samples and stop to maintain camera traps.

Lab analysis. Some days will focus on lab activities, in which case you can rise a bit later and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. You might do some data entry and mapping work, and you’ll have a chance to participate in the analysis of some of the data.

Throughout the expedition, you’ll hear from the experts on staff about the research and its context, and you’ll have some free time to explore the culinary and cultural attractions the region has to offer.

ABOUT William Megill

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations and Food

Near countryside and urban amenities

Single and couples rooms available

Your team will stay at a full-service hotel in Emmerich, a picturesque city on the banks of the Rhine near Germany’s border with the Netherlands. Couples and singles rooms are available. From the hotel, you'll travel to study sites throughout the Lower Rhine region and to the project’s labs at the Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences in the town of Cleves.

The team will share breakfasts and dinners at the hotel and eat lunch at the university's dining hall or at local cafés and restaurants. You’ll have your pick of many typical European and American foods and can try a number of local specialties, which include fine cheeses and sausages.

“Beavers-Germany-Team 1a & 1b”

We had many interesting and fun days however the lead person could be better organized and manage his time better. He works hard but at times volunteers had nothing to do.

Earthwatch: Mike- Thank you for the valuable feedback. We appreciate you fielding on the first team of this project, and are aware that that the first run of this expedition requires a great deal of flexibility from our volunteers. Thank you for your continued support and we will use your feedback to make improvements on future teams.